The Stonyfield Earth Day 5K— Put Some Spring in your Step with this Terrific 5K and Free Earth Day FairThis is a Run or Walk for everyone, and includes a FREE Earth Day Fair with exhibits and booths and lots of family activities. It is coming to you on April 21, 2012, celebrating healthy people and a healthy planet at Stonyfield's Yogurt Works in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Spring is coming and so is the Stonyfield Earth Day 5K and Earth Day Fair, a morning-long festival to celebrate running, walking, healthy food, and a healthy earth. There will be live music and a super post race celebration with a free buffet with very healthy snacks including, of course, Stonyfield products. In line with the Stonyfield "Yogurt on a Mission" programs, 10% of proceeds will be donated to charity. So get your "Moove" on, get in gear and begin your spring racing in Londonderry. And bring your friends, family and team to the free Earth Day Fair.

This is the second annual Stonyfield Earth Day 5K and you don’t want to miss it! It’s time to get mooving! Just about anyone can run or walk a 5K; that's right, both runners and walkers are welcomed to this event, including family and school teams. Taking place the Saturday after the Boston Marathon, and the day before actual Earth Day 2012 (the 42nd annual), this event will be a regional magnet for many. The race starts, as does the Earth Day Fair, at 10:00 a.m. at Stonyfield's Yogurt Works on Burton Drive, just south of the Boston-Manchester Regional Airport. There will be plenty of available parking.www.stonyfield5k.com.

Stonyfield is a Londonderry, New Hampshire based company and the world’s leading organic yogurt maker. Stonyfield is supplied by many organic and family farms in New England. Stonyfield is known for its generous support of road racing over the years, and now they host their own race; it is also known for being one of the most environmentally responsible companies on the planet, and has been since its founding in Wilton, New Hampshire in 1983.

In addition to a great 5K run or walk on a gently rolling USATF-certified course, this will be a fun and unique day featuring fitness, food, and information on sustainable products and organizations, all on display at the Earth Day Fair. Take a look at the sponsors on the Race Website and you will have some idea of what is in store for the exhibits at the Fair. The Fair will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in front of the Stonyfield Visitor Center, adjacent to the race Start/Finish area. A kids' fun run (free entry) has been added to the festivities this year, with kids' races starting just after 11:00 a.m. Please join the celebration! The Fair is FREE and open to the public. There is plenty of free parking too, with parking shuttles as needed. Of course, car pooling is encouraged. The very impressive list of sponsors and vendors will feature:

• Wholesome, fun and tasty food samples from Stonyfield and other vendors.
• Demonstrations of eco-friendly products and approaches
• Live music throughout the morning.
• Information from sponsors and vendors on healthy foods, general health issues, and environmental topics
• Educational opportunities and experiences with a focus on sustainability and sustainable practices.

And you know what they say about the early bird. Take advantage of early online registration. If you are among the first 1,000 you can save $5; this fee is a very reasonable $20.00 with a special discounted rate for youth participants 17 and under (only $15). But don’t delay because the race may sell out and you want to be sure to get one of the custom organic cotton T-shirts!—these are sure to become acclaimed memorabilia as this event will be a classic. Race day registration will be $30 ($20 for 17-and-under).www.stonyfield5k.com.

The Stonyfield Earth Day 5K is organized by LOCO Sports , the organization that now produces a number of outstanding races throughout New England. With LOCO having established a strong reputation over the past few years, participants can rest assured the race is in capable hands. From start to finish the entire weekend will be a professionally organized event.

The course is beautiful, featuring modest elevation changes and low traffic in a wide open, mostly rural area. The race starts and ends just east of the Stonyfield facilities on Burton Drive. It is a really fun and manageable course with chances to see the leaders, friends, teammates and family members as they enjoy their race along the route.

This race will introduce many runners to Londonderry, a small town with a rich history and distinctive character—apple orchards especially. Londonderry is also easy to get to, close to Interstate 93, about an hour north of Boston and only minutes south of Manchester. See excellent directions on the race website along with information on Stonyfield Farm, LOCO Running, the course (including maps), registration, ride share and parking, sponsors, the Earth Day Fair and Earth Day, and much more: www.stonyfield5k.com

Interested participants should know there will also be an opportunity for number and packet pickup and late registration (if available) in front of the Stonyfield Farm Yogurt Works from 8:00 a.m. through 9:45 a.m. But two notes of caution—this event will likely sell out so do not plan on race day sign up—do it now! And do not plan on arriving late, as inbound traffic will be shut off (the entrance drive is part of the course) well before race start at 10:00 a.m.

Computer chip B-tag timing by Yankee Timing Company will provide accurate and immediate results for all. Participants in this race will be using the B-tag system where the timing chip is woven into the bib number (must be worn on the front abdominal area and visible to be read) Bib numbers do not have to be returned; they are yours to keep!

Stonyfield Farm—“Yogurt on a Mission”
Stonyfield Farm has been in business and making a difference since 1983 with their humble beginnings on a small farm in Wilton, New Hampshire. Stonyfield’s story is one of dedication and perseverance, of providing healthy food for healthy people and protecting a healthy planet. If you read Stonyfield’s mission statement and the history of the company and its growth you will quickly learn that this is a very special company; one that is at the forefront of sustainable, organic agriculture and production, and one that provides the most delicious organic yogurts and smoothies on the market, taking the environment into consideration every step of the way.

Stonyfield Farm has supported running events, fitness, health and wellness from its beginning. It is no surprise they are sponsoring an Earth Day race of their own because promoting fitness and protecting the environment have long been core principles of the company. Their Profits for the Planet program has been a model for other businesses. As part of their commitment to healthy food, healthy people, and a healthy planet, they give 10% of profits to efforts that help to protect and restore the earth. To date, over $14 million has been gifted through various grants and programs.

As part of Stonyfield's "Yogurt on a Mission" philosophy, 10% of the race proceeds will go to Londonderry High School programs; specifically two programs will be recipients: The first is the EcoSense Club, whose mission is to promote, encourage, and increase awareness of Earth-friendly practices throughout the school community. Their current focus is the planning of projects that will encourage the student body to conserve and recycle. They are planning and preparing activities for the Londonderry schools and the town to celebrate Earth Week. The second award will be to a graduating senior who intends to further her or his education in the health field or environmental studies.

Please visit the Stonyfield website for information on recipes, coupons and offers, rewards, farmers who supply their organic milk, organic living, mission, history, Profits for the Planet Program, and much more: www.stonyfield.com

Earth Day, the 42nd Year
Earth Day began in 1970 and was intended as a “teach-in” at various universities and schools around the country. It was founded primarily by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin who saw it as an opportunity to provide information and incentive to overcome political inertia for his Congressional colleagues who were doing nothing to protect the environment despite enormous disasters, including the oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California the year before. By April 22, 1970 hundreds of community groups joined more than 2,000 colleges and universities and over 10,000 primary and secondary schools for an enormously successful launch.

It is driven largely by local organizations with the overall guidance, coordination and leadership of the Earth Day Network: www.earthday.org

Today Earth Day is celebrated in more than 180 countries and is the largest secular holiday in the world and concentrates on local needs and local grass roots environmental issues, every community having different needs and processes for improvement. This race and the proceeds will benefit such a local, grassroots organization, in keeping with the 10% for the planet model of Stonyfield Farms.

Some General Information
The weather in April for New Hampshire can be unpredictable, but most likely it will be ideal for running. The race is on rain or shine. In Londonderry the average high temperature for April 21 is 59 and average low 31, with a mean temperature of 45. There will be a water stop about half way through the course. Organic cotton shirts will be given to all preregistered runners; the earlier you arrive the more likely it is you get the shirt you want. Runners or walkers with strollers may participate—it is a family friendly event—but they are asked to start in the rear of the field. Pets are not permitted on the course. Headphones of any type are strongly discouraged. The course will be closed to traffic; however, it is spectator friendly because of the out-back elements. All participants and spectators will thoroughly enjoy this event. You will want to be a part of it.

Be a Part of the Second Annual Stonyfield Earth Day 5K
Check the race Website for details and directions on how to get there. But do get there on April 21, 2012 and help friends and family Stonyfield Earth Day 5K with great music and a lot of tasty organic treats as well as valuable information. Have a great run and then have some wonderful fun—bring family, friends, teammates and celebrate running, celebrate the earth.